Archive for the ‘Prosperity’ Category

The 2016 Presidential election is upon us, and once again the establishment parties are telling us that a vote for a third party candidate amounts to a vote for the “other candidate” who is supposedly much worse the their candidate. If you’re excited about the prospect of a Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump Presidency, read no further; I’m not writing anything here that is likely to change your mind… Now for the rest of you…

If the thought of both a Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump Presidency turns your stomach, you may be thinking of voting for one of these two in order to stop the worst candidate from winning. But don’t take the bait; this very thinking is the reason you are faced with such an abominable choice to begin with.

If you are leaning toward a third party candidate like Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, Darrel Castle or somebody else, you have probably been approached by Hilary Clinton supporters who insist that a vote for your favorite candidate is a vote for Trump, and Donald Trump supporters who insist that voting your conscience is a vote for Hilary. This is a logical fallacy. There are two possibilities, either your vote determines the outcome of the election, or it doesn’t.

If your vote (and the votes of others for the same candidate) is less than the margin of victory for either establishment party candidate, then at least you and your comrades sent a message that you want change in a direction that is consistent with the platform of your candidate and his or her party. A minor victory. If you vote with either establishment party candidate, you would be giving a nod of approval to that candidate. In the case of an over-whelming victory by the “lesser evil” you chose, you would be giving a “mandate” to enact that candidates policies. A lose-lose for you.

If your vote (and the votes of others for the same candidate) is more than the margin of victory for either establishment party candidate, then your vote is more powerful than ever! Now you and your comrades have done much more than send a message that you want change in a direction that is consistent with the platform of your candidate and his or her party. You have become a voting block that the winning party must prevent the opposition from recruiting in the next cycle. The winner must appease you by incorporating some of your policies. At the same time the loser will actively seek out those who are of like mind to secure future victories, and this can only be accomplished by adopting some of the policy positions that your favorite candidate and party advocate. A win-win for you.

The reason that the choices keep getting worse is because the establishment parties and their accomplices in the mass media have found a strategy that works. Ironically, It only works with the acquiescence of those who are most disgusted by it. As long as there is the illusion of only two choices a candidate only needs to show his or her opponent is so horrifying, that anyone is better… and there is only one other choice. The media keeps emphasizing the bi-partisan horse race with rigged polls that leave demographics out of the sample who would vote for a third-party alternative, or the polls will only ask about two candidates at first. So this way, frustrated third-party supporters will feel increasingly marginalized, and begin to think they are “throwing their vote away” by voting their hopes and not their fears.

Here’s where things get really ugly. If the establishment parties candidates were simply lame, but not scary, then many voters might still be willing to “throw their vote away” to send a message, but not if they were horrified by one of the establishment candidates, then all that matters is stopping that candidate. This goes both ways. SO THE WORSE THE TWO ESTABLISHMENT PARTY NOMINEES ARE, THE MORE THEY CAN COUNT ON YOU VOTING FOR ONE OF THEM!!! Taking the bait and voting for a lesser evil out of fear of the greater evil reinforces this atrocious bi-partisan political machine, and drives a race to the bottom whereby we can keep expecting worse and worse candidates.

Now the above seems to imply some level of collusion which smells of tin-foil hats and conspiracy theories right? Well sort of. Wherever two people and greed are gathered there is a conspiracy, and yes, there is genuine collusion. The most visible and obvious example of this collusion is the Commission on Presidential debates. It was created by the establishment parties to keep out other candidates. Before then, the League of Women voters hosted the debates, but they were no longer willing to limit the forum to two candidates. Since the time of Ross Perot they have raised the bar to prevent any future three-way debates. However, even without planned collusion, this mindset is bound to be encouraged by each of the major campaigns, and the outcomes are likely to be just as abysmal as long as voters take the bait.

But isn’t this election different? Are the stakes much higher than a few policy issues? Absolutely! Especially for libertarians. If you are a libertarian it is absolutely essential that you cast a vote for the Libertarian nominee in this election.

For the first time since the election of Abraham Lincoln, we have a chance to break the two party system for the foreseeable future! Some might argue that Ross Perot’s Reform Party presented such a possibility and withered away quickly, but this is different. The Reform Party was really a ballot access vehicle for one independent candidate, whereas the Libertarian Party has been a nationally balloted party since 1972. It has been on the vast majority of state ballots in every election since then and has been on the ballot in all fifty states on previous occasions. Since the party’s founding about 600 Libertarians held elected or appointed offices . Since the party’s creation, 10 Libertarians have been elected to state legislatures. The Libertarian Party has a platform based on a specific ideology, libertarianism.

In Michigan, a political party whose top of ticket candidate earns over 5% of the vote caste for Secretary of State in the previous election is treated the same as a major party. The only difference being that that Michigan election law reserves the phrase, “major party” for the top two vote getters, but other than that, there would be no difference. So if Gary Johnson’s electors receive 154,040 votes in Michigan, the Libertarian Party of Michigan will effectively become a major party! Most other states have similar laws.

In addition, Federal election laws will kick in that will make large sums of money available to the Libertarian Party thereby enabling it to overcome ballot obstacles in states where these problems still exist. This last benefit is controversial among Libertarians, but I think Michael Emerling made the same points I would make. Even being in the enviable position of being able to reject these funds would be a game changer. Being a federally recognized “minor party” is just a stones throw away from being a “major party.”

Having three major parties instead of two, would improve the candidates of the Republican and Democrat parties too; they would need to appeal to our hopes and not our fears.

Then there is the Holy Grail of Presidential elections… The Oval. This is the first time in the Libertarian Party’s history when there is a reasonable probability of winning the election. At first this claim may seem outrageous since even the most favorable polling doesn’t bring us to within a margin of error of earning a majority of electoral votes. Here’s where the contingencies of the Twelfth Amendment of the US Constitution come into play. If no candidate gets a majority of the electoral vote, then the election is up to the US House of Representatives, which must pick from the top three electoral vote getters. Given the fact that they are mostly Republicans who can’t stand Trump or Clinton, their would be a reasonable chance they would nominate a two-term Republican Governor turned Libertarian. For the first time a number of Republican leaning major dallies, including the Detroit News, have chosen to endorse Gary Johnson because of their disgust with Trump. Even former Republican nominee Mitt Romney who won’t vote for Trump, won’t rule out voting for Johnson. So the idea of the House picking Johnson may not be that far-fetched.

How could Johnson get electors? The untold story on the evening news is that there is enough support for Johnson in some states, that a plurality is not out of reach for the former New Mexico Governor. Given the mass defections by Republicans who can’t stomach Donald Trump, a few disloyal electors can’t be ruled out either.

Another reason Republicans might settle on Johnson is that they would still be able to get their Vice Presidential nominee elected. Under the Twelfth Amendment, only the top two electoral vote getters for Vice President could be considered. This would probably be Mike Pence and Tim Kaine. The Republican Senate would probably choose Pence. This leaves Bill Weld without a probable path to victory.

It is time to break the two party system and you have a chance to do it. Furthermore, you would be voting for the most qualified candidate. By himself, Governor Johnson has more executive experience than all of this years opposing Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates combined. Unlike his opponents he is not likely to corner Russia and flirt with Nuclear war in Syria, nor is he a loose cannon who is likely to push the proverbial button in the midst of a temper tantrum. Rather he supports a strong defense and a non-interventionist foreign policy. He is not under criminal investigation for endangering the national security or sexual assault. He has a positive message based on reducing the scope of government and affirming individual liberty. He is a successful businessman who did not use repeated bankruptcies to avoid paying contractors. He won’t be putting people in Prison for non-violent drug offenses.

He is a moderate, but here’s the biggest benefit to us more radical libertarians. With the rise of the Libertarian Party, the new paradigm will no longer be left-versus right; rather it will be liberty versus authoritarianism, paving the way for a more clear cut ideological dichotomy moving forward. Eventually this may devolve into another entrenched bi-partisan paradigm, but that tragedy is a way off.

Thomas Jefferson suggested that 20 years was too long to go without a revolution, the revolution we can win this Tuesday is way overdue. Don’t blow this once in a lifetime opportunity by falling for the same old scare tactics.

Obama’s so-called “Affordable Care Act” (BKA Obamacare) is devastating to many working class Americans. Unfortunately, the unions we pay to represent us, are not speaking up about this since they have become tools of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party along with some Republican accomplices have betrayed labor, but labor would rather betray the rank and file then break the chains that keep them beholden to their political masters.

I am one of Obamacare’s victims. This is my story. If I am the only victim, then it’s no big deal…. but I have a feeling I have lots of company. I have never read about this in the mainstream media, but this is the truth.

As a part-time college professor, I have been teaching at two institutions to earn a decent income. I have been able to use that money to buy my own insurance. Since the law passed my premiums have increased significantly with no significant new benefits. But that is the least of my problems.

The ACA requires employers to buy health insurance for any employees who work three-fourths of full time or more. So many employees are having their hours slashed by employers who don’t wish to face penalties for giving their employees too many (sic) hours. Most people would expect this to force employers to restrict their part-time employees to 29 hours per week, since most people think of 40 hours as full-time. Such an intervention is bad enough, in principle, and a person struggling to make ends meet in the current depression may not be able to afford any loss in income. Nonetheless, the reality is even more outrageous.

According to the ACA college faculty who teach over 11.5 hours per week are categorized as three-fourths full time. No, that’s not a typo. According to bureaucrats, the law says eleven and one half hours are three-fourths full time! Since my regular course load involved two six hour classes (12 hours total) per week, my hours have been nearly cut in half at one of the places where I teach. Fortunately, the union local at the other college refused to cave in and I still have all of my hours there.

If I can’t find additional work in the next couple weeks, I may be faced with bankruptcy. Meanwhile I have had to forgo Christmas shopping in preparation for this impending financial crisis.

The rank and file need to stand up and tell their unions to withhold endorsements from any candidates who supported the ACA or any part of it’s implementation. Workers of the USA unite! We have plenty to loose.

In February, I endorsed libertarian-Republican Ron Paul. My confidence that, if elected, he would be the best president in generations is unshaken. Naturally, I voted for him in Michigan’s presidential primary. Unfortunately, by Dr. Paul’s own admission, his nomination at the Republican Convention in Tampa is extremely unlikely. In fact nothing short of Romney’s exit from the contest would make it possible.

I don’t wish to discourage Ron Paul delegates. They have an unprecedented opportunity to give the Republican Party a more libertarian national platform, and they have the numbers to do it; delegates are committed to a candidate on the first ballot, but no such restraints apply to matters of policy.

So where do we go from here? There will be a number of choices on the ballot. The typical approach for supporters of a Republican candidate is for those people to rally around their party’s nominee, but Ron Paul supporters are not motivated by a love of politics as usual. Rather, they are motivated by a message of maximum liberty in the context of a constitutionally limited republic, and a desire to elect a president who feels as they do.

Gary Johnson and Scotty Boman at Libby Fest.

The good news is that they still have an opportunity to elect such a president! The Libertarian Party has nominated New Mexico’s former two-term Governor Gary Johnson as their presidential candidate. Governor Johnson has been the most libertarian governor in United States history:

He vetoed 750 of the bills that were passed by the New Mexico legislature; more than all other governors combined.

He cut over 1,200 government jobs without firing anyone.

He got government out of the way thereby allowing for the private creation of 20,000 more jobs.

He left New Mexico with a budget surplus.

He cut taxes 14 times while never raising them.

…the list goes on. Throughout the early Republican campaign for the nomination he repeatedly advocated libertarian solutions for national problems, and as a two-term governor he enters the race with stronger political credentials then any other Libertarian nominee, and he has more executive experience then Barack Obama and Mitt Romney combined.

Furthermore, a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for the party of principal. The Libertarian Party has been the choice for advocates of individual liberty and limited government for 40 years. Many of it’s founders were Goldwater Republicans who were disgusted with Nixonian statism. In 1988 Ron Paul was the Party’s nominee President. At the 2012 convention, delegates nominated Judge Jim Gray as Gary Johnson’s running mate. Judge Gray is an outspoken critic of the war on drugs.

For these reasons, I wholeheartedly endorse the Libertarian candidate, Governor Gary Johnson, as my choice for President of these United States.

I am a Republican candidate for United States Senate as well as a Precinct Delegate. I have been a delegate at the last two Republican State conventions. Prior to being a Republican candidate, I ran for a variety of public offices as a Libertarian. I first met Ron Paul in 1988 when he ran for President as a Libertarian. I worked on his Republican campaign in 2008, and have been knocking on doors and phoning from home to get him elected in 2012.

Many people campaign on a platform of liberty, and many others get elected to public office. Ron Paul not only speaks about liberty, he has manifested it through his service as a veteran, and his voting record in Congress; always standing on the side of right even when he must stand alone. He is the only viable candidate who stands consistently for free markets, honest money, and a non-interventionist foreign policy in a constitutionally limited Republic.

I proudly accept responsibility for any of my political opinions, and am not acting as the spokesperson for any employer or organization I am involved with.

On November 22, 1913, Representatives Robert L. Owen and Carter Glass introduced HR 7837. A bill that, (after a month and various modifications) became the Federal Reserve Act. Since then, the dollar has lost over 99% of its value as measured in gold, which had been the basis of the dollar for more than a century. Since that time, we’ve seen the value of 1/21-oz. of gold go from $1 to $83.44

The worse example of Federal intrusion into, and collusion with, a special interest is the Federal Reserve System. As a federally sanctioned cartel of privately owned banks, the Fed has unparalleled privileges. The deal is further sweetened by the appointment of its Chair by the President, giving it the prestige of a fourth branch of government. I would re-introduce legislation to audit and retire this institutional leach on American prosperity.

I would vote in favor of a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve System, repeal legal tender laws, ban the creation of new credit (out of thin air) by Federal Reserve member banks, and dissolve the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The governments roll should be to prevent fraud concerning financial instruments, by setting standards as enumerated in Article 1 Section 8. A free market of currencies that would ultimately follow a gold standard is the best option, though a treasury certified gold standard on backed currency would be constitutional, and be better than the current approach.

I have been opposed to the Federal Reserve System for decades and have been actively campaigning against it since 2008:

The establishment has been able to pull wool over people’s eyes by making them think it is too complicated for mortals to understand. Here is an informative cartoon to break down such barriers:

“…the game called BAILOUT has been played over and over again in the rescue of large corporations, domestic banks, and savings-and-loan institutions. The pretense has been that these measures were necessary to protect the public. The result, however, has been just the opposite. The public has been exploited as billions of dollars have been expropriated through taxes and inflation. The money has been used to make up losses that should have been paid by the failing banks and corporations as the penalty for mismanagement and fraud.”
– G. Edward Griffin. Creature From Jekyll Island (Chapter Two – The Name of the Game is Bailout, 2002)

It’s official. Both General Motors and Chrysler Corporation have gone bankrupt. While I didn’t expect this to happen, I considered it a better outcome then multi-billion dollar taxpayer supported bailouts. I said so much in a radio interview on October 2nd, 2008 with WILS AM, radio host Walt Sorg. Then I argued that it was fundamentally wrong to force people to support a business that was going to fail. It was popular to oppose the bailout of Wall Street, but prinipal forced me to oppose the more popular bailout of the automakers for the same reason.

Of course the Democrats and Republicans went ahead with the bailouts anyway. Politicians, CEO’s, and labor leaders argued that these bailouts were essential to prevent bankruptcy. Bankruptcy, it was argued, was an unacceptable outcome…

Billions of dollars later, they are still bankrupt. General Motors has become a government owned corporation, and our President is asking for more. Ford Motor Company didn’t go this route, but how long can they survive in an environment where the government, that writes the rules, is also the primary owner of their largest domestic competitor? Is this a level playing field?

We could have spared ourselves a great deal of misery if we had only abstained from the bailouts, and allowed these businesses to do what they would have to do anyway. Yes they would have gone bankrupt, but the currency would be stronger, and we wouldn’t be witnessing the nationalization of the auto industry.

Furthermore, the money that was spent on these bailouts, would have remained in the hands of consumers, who could have spent their money on products made by successful businesses, who in tern could employ many of the workers who are now out of work.

We are on the verge of a major depression if the current policies continue: Deficit spending, paying off debt by printing money, exporting our industrial base, imprisoning large portions of the population, and wasting our resources and lives on unprovoked military crusades.

The Republican President and Democratic Congress have continues on the same course like a canoe team riding the rapids to Niagara Falls.

Bad economic times, like these, call for a more comprehensive plan. Libertarians, with their support for free market reforms such as eliminating the Income Tax and reducing burdensome regulations, suggest even more ways to increase opportunities and improve the economy.

The only way to end the income tax and pay off the dept is to change policy and cut spending. The first cuts should be in areas where the Government is doing the most harm, while leaving programs people have grown dependent on (like social security) intact. Then phase them out gradually. The younger generation should be able to opt out of social security.